They say that imitation is the sincerest form of flattery. So the BMW engineers and product planners that designed the first iDrive controller must be feeling gratified with what they created, given that other automakers have copied it. And they must feel particularly vindicated by this, since the original iDrive introduced in 2001 was pilloried in automotive press—and rightly so, since it was as klugey as they come.

But as often happens with tech pioneers, BMW blazed a trail that others not only followed, but also refined. (The originator did too, since subsequent versions of BMW's iDrive became much better.) While Infiniti and Mercedes-Benz are two examples of competitor automakers that adopted the concept of a rotary center-console controller, with its Multi Media Interface (MMI), Audi arguably created the superlative version. And Audi also brought innovations to this type of interface that others, including BMW, have copied.

The most recent version of Audi's MMI controller was introduced not on the automaker's flagship A8, but in its latest entry-level vehicle, the 2015 A3. And it adds a new and improved layout not (yet) found on any other Audi vehicles.

For a full review of that car, including all of the onboard tech, click the link above. In this story, we'll focus exclusively on the MMI platform at the heart of many Audi models.

Overview and MMI ControllerAudi's MMI system offers a comprehensive array of infotainment features, including music playback, navigation, and hands-free Bluetooth for voice calls. Some of the features differ between, say, the A8 and the Q5, but the system generally works similarly in each vehicle. You can get some versions of it with 4G LTE on board (for a monthly fee), and newer versions of the system like the one in the A3 offer Facebook, Twitter, and Picture Destination, the latter of which can deduce a navigation destination from the geo coordinates in a photo.

At the heart of the system is the MMI Controller, which still uses a larger rotary dial surrounded by four buttons, one at each corner that corresponds to icons on an in-dash screen. But to make the controller easier to use by touch, without looking away from the road, Audi has added two toggle switches in front of the controller to select navigation, phone, radio, and media functions.

Even though we've found the Audi MMI to be one of the most intuitive to use among the center console controllers, in a recent test of the 2015 A3, the addition of the toggle switches makes it even easier to select the functions you want without having to look down, since your finger can more effortlessly find and access the functions. And it makes us wonder if you'll see this type of enhancement on competitors.

Touchpad and ConclusionsThe A3's MMI also includes an upgrade that both the BMW iDrive and the Mercedes Benz eventually added to their rotary controllers: a touchpad integrated into the top that allows using a finger to trace letters and numbers to input for, say, a navigation destination or phone contact. And as with a touch-screen interface on a smartphone or tablet, gestures can be used on the touchpad, for instance, to swipe to move an on-screen map and browse through music selections a la Apple's Cover Flow.

While the touchpad is a cool, attention-getting feature, we've found it doesn't always work as smoothly and consistently as other input methods, including voice. On the plus side, the handwriting recognition software (from MyScript) works with several different languages.

The MMI touch controller in the A3 also includes menu and back buttons, while the four buttons around the rotary controller are used to access subfunctions within one of the four main menus activated by the toggle switches. The MMI controller works in tandem with a svelte 1-inch-thick, 7-inch-diagonal LCD screen that lifts up out of the center of the dash. (An A3 without the navigation system option has the same setup with the same size bezel, but with a 5.3-inch LCD screen.)

Perhaps the biggest omission remains the lack of a USB port—and not only that, but the fact that the iPod connector provided is of the older, 30-pin variety, meaning that you'll need an extra adapter to use any recent Apple device.

While we generally prefer touch screens (of the automakers who use a center console controller, only Infiniti pairs it with a touch screen), the latest Audi MMI Interface in the 2015 A3 is light years away from the original BMW iDrive. It not only sets the standard, but also significantly raises the bar.

Doug Newcomb is a recognized expert on the subject of car technology within the auto industry and among the automotive and general media, and a frequent speaker at automotive and consumer electronics industry events. Doug...

Jamie Lendino is the managing editor of ExtremeTech.com, and has written for PCMag.com and the print magazine since 2005. Recently, Jamie ran the consumer electronics and mobile teams at PCMag, and before that, he was...

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